Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has clarified that there are no restrictions on guardians, citizens or civil society members visiting government and provincialised schools in the state. The minister said the School Education Department has not issued any official notice or circular preventing people from visiting schools.
The clarification came after a message circulated on WhatsApp reportedly suggested that restrictions had been imposed on visits to government and provincialised schools. The issue created confusion over whether parents, guardians and members of the public would require permission to enter or visit government-run educational institutions.
Pegu clarified the position on September 30, 2026, stating that guardians and citizens are welcome to visit schools and provide suggestions. However, such visits should not interfere with regular classes or disturb the academic environment of the institution.
The minister specifically rejected reports claiming that the School Education Department had introduced a formal restriction on school visits. According to the clarification, no such notice or circular had been issued by the department.
The controversy is linked to the circulation of an unauthorised WhatsApp message. According to the report, the message was circulated in an official Cluster Group and allegedly suggested that civil society members faced restrictions while visiting schools.
Following the circulation of the message, a show-cause notice was reportedly issued to Nurul Hussain, a Cluster Resource Centre Coordinator, or CRCC. The notice concerns the alleged circulation of an unauthorised and objectionable message using the name and designation of the Inspector of Schools, Kamrup Metro district.
The department has reportedly taken the matter seriously because official communication issued in the name of a government officer can create confusion among officials and members of the public. According to the show-cause notice, a CRCC is not authorised to issue or circulate instructions in the name of the Inspector of Schools without approval from the competent authority.
The notice reportedly asks Hussain to explain the circumstances under which the message was circulated and whether he had obtained prior approval from the Inspector of Schools. He has also been asked to clarify under whose instructions the communication was issued and why the name and designation of the officer were used.
The authorities have reportedly directed him to preserve the original WhatsApp message, screenshots and other related communications. These materials may be required for examination as part of the departmental proceedings.
The show-cause notice also reportedly gives a 24-hour period for submitting an explanation. If no explanation is submitted within the stipulated period, the authorities may proceed with the matter according to the applicable departmental procedure.
The clarification from the education minister is important for parents and guardians because schools are an important point of contact between families and education authorities. Parents may need to visit schools to discuss attendance, academic performance, student welfare, examinations and other education-related matters.
Pegu said citizens and guardians can continue to visit government and provincialised schools and provide suggestions, provided their presence does not disrupt regular teaching or the academic atmosphere. This means the clarification does not suggest unrestricted access that could interfere with school operations. Instead, visits are expected to take place without disturbing regular classes.
The Assam government maintains separate administrative structures for government and provincialised educational institutions. The Directorate of Elementary Education, Assam provides information and services relating to government and provincialised elementary schools through its official platform.
The latest clarification therefore distinguishes between legitimate visits by guardians and citizens and unauthorised instructions circulated through official communication channels.
The episode also highlights the importance of verifying messages before forwarding or treating them as government orders. An instruction regarding school operations can have a direct impact on parents, teachers, students and local communities. Official notices and circulars issued by the concerned department remain the appropriate sources for confirming such changes.
The minister’s clarification means that parents and guardians should not assume that a WhatsApp message represents an official government order unless it has been issued or confirmed by the competent education authority.
The show-cause notice issued to the CRCC is a separate administrative matter. The notice seeks an explanation regarding the circulation of the message and does not by itself establish that any final disciplinary action has been taken.
For now, the Assam Education Department’s stated position is that there is no department-wide restriction preventing guardians or citizens from visiting government and provincialised schools. Visitors can continue to engage with schools and offer suggestions, while ensuring that regular classes and the academic environment are not disrupted.
The development comes as Assam continues to maintain government and provincialised schools as part of its public education system. The state’s official education website provides information on government and provincialised elementary schools and related education services.
The clarification is expected to address the confusion created by the circulating WhatsApp message and provide parents, guardians and citizens with a clearer understanding of the current school visit rules in Assam.
